What do campers, landscapers, boat owners, and simply the average homeowner with a yard have in common? They all need one vital piece of machinery: a hose. You would be surprised by how often you’ll need a hose over the course of you lifetime. But of course, many find that when they need a hose most, they either don’t have the actual type of hose most suited for their purposes, or it’s not working. Indeed, you may be amazed by the amount of different hoses on the market. Yes, believe it or not, there’s more than what may initially meet the eye when it comes to your water hose. But not all of us are gardeners, so we don’t necessarily know what to choose or what we’re dealing with when it comes to hoses. So before going to the hardware store — or looking online — to buy a hose, let’s look into what you should consider first. Your specific needs may vastly change the hose you choose. And if you take care of your hose, it will hopefully last a lot longer than you might think.
Why Do You Need A Hose?
The first think you should ask yourself before buying a hose is why you need it. Are you looking for a hose to simply water your small yard, or are you a big-time landscaper? Do you need one for your boat, or one for camping? Different working conditions require different types, some more durable and multi-functional than others. However, there is no point in you spending money on a hose with many different professional functions when you’re only going to use it for basic applications. So think carefully: why do you need this hose? Even if you’ll only use one casually, you may have a sprinkler system in mind. If that’s the case, you might want to buy one with a burst pressure over 350 psi. The same goes if you’re thinking of using a nozzle with the hose. If you want to give your yard just one inch of water, said to be the optimum amount of water per session, the equipment will need to deliver half a gallon per square foot. That’s more than you expected, isn’t it? Luckily, even hoses used for casual purposes tend to be pretty durable. A good garden hose should last five to 10 years. Say you want to use a sprinkler system to assist in watering the lawn. Don’t waste water by leaving your sprinkler on too long — an hour to 90 minutes should be long enough.
Do You Need To Do More Than Water Your Lawn?
So, say that you want to use a hose for more than just watering your lawn. If this is the case, you aren’t alone. But there are several factors to consider in this case. If you wish to use a hose while camping or boating, you need to make sure that you bring one for potable water. These are usually white or blue, ranging from 10 to 50 feet in length. It should also be certified — don’t just take someone at their word, and double check before buying. Meanwhile, those looking to do some green landscaping should use one no more than 100 feet long. The best landscaping hoses are soakers. These deliver a lot of water pressure quickly, and are extremely valuable for people looking to do yard work.
How Can I Maintain A Hose?
When it comes to this kind of equipment, maintenance is fairly simple. The most common issues are tangles. Simply keep an eye out for tangles, don’t assume that the problem is bigger than it is when your hose doesn’t produce water, and carefully untangle the coils. It’s also a good idea to keep the equipment housed in a dark, cool area away from the elements. With these precautions, it should last for a long time.